Shaun Murphy

Brand New Blues

Vision Wall Records

A young Shaun Murphy found work in the theater, eventually leading to a Motown recording contract. Her first album was a collaborative effort with Meat Loaf on the Rare Earth subsidiary. Murphy toured as a backing singer for both Bob Seger and Eric Clapton. Murphy met Bill Payne and Fred Tackett of Little Feat and appeared on the regrouped band’s 1988 comeback album “Let It Roll.” She was later asked to join Little Feat as a full-time member. Some of Murphy’s performances with Little Feat are captured on 1996’s “Live from Neon Park.”

After spending nearly 16 years with Little Feat, Murphy finally broke from the band in 2009 to record her debut solo album, “Livin’ The Blues.” In the liner notes, Murphy wrote, “a tip of the hat to my most influential mentors Miss Koko Taylor and Miss Etta James who have shaped the world of blues into what it is today.” More albums followed, her resolve finally being acknowledged in 2013 when she received two Blues Blast Awards. Murphy has also received three Grammy nominations and a 2017 Blues Music Award nomination for Traditional Blues Female Artist, a.k.a. the Koko Taylor Award. Content with her achievements, Murphy continues to record blues, rock, and soul. Recent albums include 2015’s “Loretta”; 2016’s “It Won’t Stop Raining”; 2019’s “Reason To Try,” featuring songs written by hometown friends; 2020’s “Flame Still Burning”; and 2023’s “I’m Coming Home.” “Brand New Blues” is Murphy’s twelfth album overall.

Murphy handles all vocals and tambourine on track #7. She is accompanied by keyboardist Anthony Saddic; guitarist Tommy Stillwell, who sings a duet with Murphy on track #12; Mike Meaans on bass; and Tom DelRossi on drums and percussion. The album was engineered by DelRossi, mixed by TC Davis and DelRossi, and mastered by Jim Loyd at the Coming Soon Sound Studio in Nashville.

The album opens with “Mama’s Home,” written by J. Edwards and featuring some great slide guitar from Stillwell, as Murphy sings “open your eyes, sweet daddy, mama’s home…tonight dancing in the hallway, walking up the stairs, caresses in the bedroom, open your eyes sweet daddy, mama’s home.”

On “Bad Luck and Trouble,” from Chris Anderson, Murphy chimes “bad luck and trouble never let me rest, bad luck and trouble won’t be denied.”

The slow ballad “Mobile,” by Murphy, Lauren Matheson Anderson, and Stillwell, features Murphy as she chants “Gonna head down to Mobile, packed my things. desperation is all I feel…I come up short, she was for a life that’s better…faded tears fall down my face…raging, raging to be free, it’s made a mess out of me.”

On the title track, “Brand New Blues,” written by Doug Jones and Roger Mason, Murphy moans “I don’t want the same old ways…if you remember me…I got no more time to waste I need to figure out what I’m gonna do…cause baby got some brand new blues.”

“Against The Wind,” by Chris Anderson, features some organ from Saddic as Murphy groans “Walking down in a hurricane…no compass…I’ll chase the stars…there’s a fire deep inside my chest…up against the course I’ll climb, ain’t no shelter, no place to hide, I’ll keep walkin’.”

On “Killing Time,” a third song from Chris Anderson, Murphy groans “I got away of killing time before time kills you.”

“Flatlands” is a song by Steve Azar and Roger Murrah, as Murphy bursts “I’m going to testify…I’ve got a long stretch of time in the flatlands…Highway 61 is the highway I’m from…Mississippi flatlands…”

“Just As I Am” is a song written by Sandy Carroll, the wife of the late producer Jim Gaines; the late guitarist James Solberg; and the late legendary Luther Allison, and recorded by Allison on his “Reckless” album in 1997, as Murphy cries “Will you love me like I love you…will you still love me when I do the things I do, will you still love me, just as I am.”

On the rockin’ “Take My Kiss Up Off Your Lips,” a second song from J. Edwards about a lover’s breakup, with piano from Saddic, Murphy shouts “take my kiss off your lips…take my breath off your fingertips…don’t do me as you always do, take my kiss off your lips.”

“I’m Gonna Take The Money” was written by Angie Russell, Daryl Burgess, and Joanna Cotten, as Murphy wails “If I had a choice between love and money, I’ll take the money.”

On “Big Girlz Don’t Cry,” from Tom Barkoukis, Kenne Cramer, and Murphy, she howls “Your not gonna find any tears in my eyes, ’cause big girlz don’t cry they get even.”

“Love Me Like You Used To Love Me” is a song from Stillwell, Murphy, and Cramer, as Murphy pleads “It was not that long ago, you used to kiss and hug me, you can love me like you used to love me or baby you can hit the road.”

On the closer, “Love’s Track,” by Murphy, Stillwell, and Cramer, Murphy croons “All the men I meet, no matter where I go, they always want to steal a piece of my soul…your every reason I’m breaking my back, you’re like a runaway train on love’s track.”

“Brand New Blues” is dedicated to the memory of the late bandmate John “John-Boy” Marcus. Murphy was first inspired by the blues when she attended the 1969 Ann Arbor Blues Festival. All of those performers who played that festival are now gone. Now it’s Murphy who inspires us.

Richard Ludmerer

Buy Us a Cup of Coffee!

Join the movement in supporting Making a Scene, the premier independent resource for both emerging musicians and the dedicated fans who champion them.

We showcase this vibrant community that celebrates the raw talent and creative spirit driving the music industry forward. From insightful articles and in-depth interviews to exclusive content and insider tips, Making a Scene empowers artists to thrive and fans to discover their next favorite sound.

Together, let’s amplify the voices of independent musicians and forge unforgettable connections through the power of music

You can donate directly through Paypal!

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Order the New Book From Making a Scene

Breaking Chains – Navigating the Decentralized Music Industry

Breaking Chains is a groundbreaking guide for independent musicians ready to take control of their careers in the rapidly evolving world of decentralized music. From blockchain-powered royalties to NFTs, DAOs, and smart contracts, this book breaks down complex Web3 concepts into practical strategies that help artists earn more, connect directly with fans, and retain creative freedom. With real-world examples, platform recommendations, and step-by-step guidance, it empowers musicians to bypass traditional gatekeepers and build sustainable careers on their own terms.

More than just a tech manual, Breaking Chains explores the bigger picture—how decentralization can rebuild the music industry’s middle class, strengthen local economies, and transform fans into stakeholders in an artist’s journey. Whether you’re an emerging musician, a veteran indie artist, or a curious fan of the next music revolution, this book is your roadmap to the future of fair, transparent, and community-driven music.

Get your Limited Edition Signed and Numbered (Only 50 copies Available)  Free Shipping Included